Ijoined the 2020 American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) conference as a first-time attendee excited to learn more about academia and to find community. I took away three meaningful lessons that led to critical self-reflection and promise to shape my trajectory as I continue my work and path in the academy.

The Power of Representation: The sense of pride and joy I experienced as I walked into different conference rooms surrounded by other scholars who shared my same identities is difficult to describe. Studies on the power of seeing one’s identities represented across different positions agree that representation can be life transforming. The conference gave me the opportunity to experience firsthand how influential representation can be. Seeing Latinas who have been successful in academia was not only reassuring of what is possible in the academy but also drew me in to listen to their stories, their roadmaps, their challenges along the way and their strategies to thrive. They modeled that which is possible, while at the same time encouraging us to chart our own paths.

Finding and Building Comunidad: Building community was reinvigorating. Being an academic can be isolating. Admittedly, time spent reading and writing behind a computer screen can eat up most of your time every day if you so let it. The week-long faculty fellowship allowed me to disconnect from the daily routine and to connect with others through a series of events and activities that were soul-nourishing and invited me to reflect on my life’s work, identity and scholarly trajectory. The time spent together with my other faculty fellows led to rich discussions about our work and our daily experiences as faculty of color in a profession that remains predominantly White. The community built during the fellowship goes beyond the time spent together at the conference. These conversations and time spent together continue to this day.

Networks that Foster Knowledge and Support: I was heartened to forge connections and networks with scholars of color across the country. Given my life philosophy, I approach every interaction as an opportunity to learn with and from others. Throughout the conference, I came to know scholars across fields. I learned from their philosophies about the world, how we learn more about the world and how we create change in the world to enhance the human condition. These colleagues also offered their support as I continue to progress and make sense of my experiences in academia. I treasured these moments throughout the conference and will continue to draw on the lessons learned as I continue to forge my own path in academia.

After spending a week in community with fellow scholars, AAHHE became more than an organization that supports graduate students and faculty of color in the academy. It became a space that facilitates the creation of meaningful relationships among scholars in the field, scholars from whom I can continue to learn and lean on as I navigate academia. I left the conference feeling grateful for the experience and hopeful for the future.